Bracelet.



PATENT-ED APR. 23, 1907.

A. G. PEARCE.

BRACELET.

APPLIOATION FILED ran. 20, 1907.

W1 in 20009 tongue member of the hinge.

f, STATES rarnnr orrrcn.

BRACELET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23, 1907.

Application filed February 26,1907. Serial No. 359,433.

To all whom it 12w, concern.-

Be it known that I, ALDRIDGE G. Pnlinon, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bracelets, of which the follmving is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to joints for bracelets or similar articles and has for its object to provide a strong and durable joint of simple construction and of neat appearance when the bracelet is opened.

A further object of the invention is to provide joint members that may be readily concealed in the tubing of the bracelet, and which will allowthe two adjacent arms of the brace let to be drawn apart or opened to the desired extent without disclosing a gap or opening between them, and when the two parts are brought back into position again the ends of the tubing are brought tightly together rendering the line of separation practically invisible. v

The invention is fully set forth in this specification and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1- shows the bracelet in its closed position with a portion broken away showing the joint. Fig. 2is an enlarged side elevation. of the joint members inserted in the adjacent ends of the tubular arms, showing the joint in its open position, the members being drawn apart. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing the upper side of the slotted member of the joint in detail. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of said member sectioned on line li- 1 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5is an end elevation sectioned on line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. Gis a plan view showing the under side of the Fig. 7is a side elevation of said tongue member. Fig. 8-is an end view of said tongue member sectioned on line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings at 1-1 are the two side arms of the bracelet constructed of tubing, and bent into a form to lit loosely around the wrist.

In bracelets of the character illustrated it is customary to divide the same into two parts or arms and hinge said arms together so that they may be separated or opened toallow the wrist to pass therethrough after which the parts may be closed together and locked. The point of separation at 2 is where the joint is formed while diametrically opposite at 3 is the opening point at which latter point the two parts are brought together and locked by any suitable locking device.

My improved bracelet joint is constructed o f two interlocking members, namely a tongue member 4 that is preferably constructed from solid wire bent to take the form or shape of the tubing and adapted to lit and be fixed into one end of one of the members, and a slotted member 5 constructed of solid material also bent to take the contour or form of the tubing and adapted to be fixed into the adjacent end of the opposite arm.

The member 5 is provided at one end with a slotted portion 6 formed lengthways in it from its outer or projecting end, leaving the same forked or provided with two extending tines or lingers 7 and 8. These lingers are provided with plain upper bearing surfaces 9 and are formed in the direction of their length on the are of a circle and the inner face of each linger is cut out at l0.1 0 in a circular form concentric with the circular face 9. In the upper face of one of these lingers is formed a slot 11 for the reception of the stop pin hereinafter described The tongue member f is provided with a forwardly extending overhanging bearing plate 13 which plate is formed integral with said member. The upper surface of its outer end is rounded oil at '12 on the swinging radius of the joint so as to work into and just clear the tubing as the bracelet is opened and closed, as best illustrated in Fig. 2. The under side of this bearing plate at 16 16 is also formed on the arc of a circle so as to correspond with and slide on the circular faces 9 9 of the lingers 7 and S of the slotted member 5. Extending downwardly from the central portion of this bearing plate is a narrow guiding tongue or web 14: having projecting flanges 1515 on its lower edge, the upper faces of which flanges are also formed on the arc of a circle concentric with the under bearing surface 16 of the plate and adapt ed to engage and register with the circular surfaces 17-17 of the recesses 1010forn1ed in the inner walls of the above-mentioned fingers. After these members 1 and 5 have been thus formed they are inserted into the adjacent ends of the tubular arm 1-1 and in setting the joint members together the web 14 is insertedinto the slotted portion 6 of the member 5. The broad flat under-faces of the overhanging plate 13 are adapted to engage and slide on the smooth upper surfaces of the fingers 7 and 8 on which they receive a good support and a liberal bearing. The guide flanges 15 on the lower edge of the web engage the corresponding recesses on the inner faces of said fingers firmly interlocking the two members and forming a strong well supported joint of practical construction, cap able of long wear and of withstanding any strain to which the bracelet may be ordinarily subjected.

The members are readily locked, or prevented from being disengaged, after having been placed together, by means of the limit pin 18 which is forced into a small hole drilled to receive it in the bearing plate 13 of the Web member, said pin extending down into a corresponding recess or slot 11 provided in the opposite member to receive it, the end of the pin bringing up against the bottom of the slot to limit-the opening motion of the bracelet arms, as best illustrated in Fig. 2.

An important feature of my improved construction is that by extending the broad upper portion or plate 13 forward over the guide web two essential advantages are obtained, first, the gap or space between the adjacent ends of the bracelet joint when opened, is covered so that only a smooth plain surface is revealed, giving the bracelet I at that time a clean and more attractive appearance, and at the same time preventing dirt and other foreign matter from getting into and clogging the joint. Then again, this broad face, of which the web portion is a part, stiffens and supports said web, which isnaturally the weakest part of the joint, greatly increasing its strength, and by this construction the joint is effectually prevented from being easily bent and destroyed.

Having thus described my'invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A bracelet constructed of tubing and having a joint formed of two separate hinge members, said members being inserted into the adjacent ends of said tubing ,one of said members being provided with a forked end, the opposite hinge member being provided with an upper bearing plate, a guide web supported from the under side of said plate, a guide flange on the lower edge of said web, said web being adapted to enter the space between the fork fingers the upper bearing plate sliding on the surface of said fingers and the guide flange engaging the under side thereof, and means for limiting the motion of the members.

2. A bracelet constructed of tubing and having a joint formed of two separate hinge members, said members being inserted into the adjacent ends of said tubing one of said members being provided with a forked end, the upper face of the fork fingers being formed longitudinally on the arc of a circle, the opposite hinge member being provided with an overhanging bearing plate adapted to slide on the upper circular face of said fork fingers, a web supported from said plate and adapted to enter the space between said fingers, means for holding the working faces of both members together, and meansfor limiting the opening stroke of said members.

3. A bracelet constructed of tubing and having a joint formed of two separate hinge members, said members being inserted into the adjacent ends of said tubing one of said members being provided with a forked end, the upper surface of which is'formed longitudinally on the arc of a circle, the opposite hinge member being provided with an upper bearing plate made on the arc of a circle on its bearing surfaces, a guide web supported from said plate, a guide flange on the lower edge of said web, said web being adapted to enter the space between the fork fingers, the upper bearing plate sliding on the circular surface of said fingers and the guide flange engaging the under side thereof, and means for limiting the motion of the members.

4. In a bracelet, a joint formed of two separate members hinged together, one of said 1 members being provided with a forked end, the upper face of the fork fingers being formed longitudinally on the arc of a circle, the opposite hinge member being provided with an overhanging bearing plate adapted to slide on the upper circular face of said fork fingers, a web supported from said plate and adapted to enter the space between said finboth members together, and means for limiting the opening stroke of said members.

5. A bracelet constructed of tubing and having a joint formed of two separate hinge members, said members being inserted into the adjacent ends of said tubing, one of said members being provided with a forked end, the upper face of the fork fingers being formed longitudinally on the arc of a circle and the lower edge of the inner faces of said fingers being provided with recesses also cut on the arc of a circle, the opposite hinge member being provided with an overhanging bearing plate adapted to slide on the upper faces of said fork fingers, and a guide web supported from said plate adapted to enter gers, means for holding the working faces of the space between said fingers, projecting guide flanges on said Web adapted to engage and follow said recessed portions to guide the movement of the members, and stop pin in one member to engage e portion of the oppo- Witnesses:

site member and limit the opening motion of HOWARD E. BARLOW, the bracelet. 7 E. I. OGDEN In testimony whereof I eflix my signature 1n presence oi two wltnesses.

ALDRIDGE G. PEARCE 

